Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announces his bid for governor July 14, 2013, in La Villita.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announces his bid for governor July 14, 2013, in La Villita.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News

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State Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso, celebrates with the Forth Worth Democrat after her filibuster to defeat the anti-abortion bill SB5, up for a vote on the last day of the legislative special session June 25, 2013. less

State Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso, celebrates with the Forth Worth Democrat after her filibuster to defeat the anti-abortion bill SB5, up for a vote on the last day of the legislative special session June ... more

Photo: Erich Schlegel, Getty Images

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Her pink sneakers become an icon for Fort Worth Sen. Wendy Davis' filibuster.

Her pink sneakers become an icon for Fort Worth Sen. Wendy Davis' filibuster.

Photo: TOM REEL, San Antonio Express-News

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State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte cheers at a watch party Oct. 3, 2013, at the San Antonio Firefighters Banquet Hall as Wendy Davis announces her campaign for governor.

State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte cheers at a watch party Oct. 3, 2013, at the San Antonio Firefighters Banquet Hall as Wendy Davis announces her campaign for governor.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News

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Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announces his bid July 14, 2013, in La Villita in San Antonio.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott announces his bid July 14, 2013, in La Villita in San Antonio.

Abbott has promised to downsize government, set "real spending limits in Austin" and stroked social conservative fires by saying, "Our priorities are wrong when we live in a state that stops a valedictorian from mentioning God but doesn't stop drug cartels crossing our border." less

Abbott has promised to downsize government, set "real spending limits in Austin" and stroked social conservative fires by saying, "Our priorities are wrong when we live in a state that stops a valedictorian ... more

Photo: Pat Sullivan, Associated Press

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Davis, 50, rocketed to national fame this summer with her filibuster against tighter abortion restrictions, stoking the hopes of Democrats who haven't won statewide office in Texas since 1994.

Davis, 50, rocketed to national fame this summer with her filibuster against tighter abortion restrictions, stoking the hopes of Democrats who haven't won statewide office in Texas since 1994.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Abbott, shown at an anti-abortion rally at the Texas Capitol, hopes to seize the fiercely socially conservative mantle of Gov. Rick Perry that has helped make Texas the country's largest red state.

Abbott, shown at an anti-abortion rally at the Texas Capitol, hopes to seize the fiercely socially conservative mantle of Gov. Rick Perry that has helped make Texas the country's largest red state.

Photo: Eric Gay, Associated Press

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Davis stands wither her daughters Dru, left, and Amber as wells her and boyfriend, former Austin Mayor Will Wynn, after she announced her candidacy Oct. 3, 2013.

Davis stands wither her daughters Dru, left, and Amber as wells her and boyfriend, former Austin Mayor Will Wynn, after she announced her candidacy Oct. 3, 2013.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Abbott attends the Republican National Committee press conference to announce its grassroots team who will strengthen ties with Hispanic Republicans on Oct. 9, 2013, in Houston.

Abbott attends the Republican National Committee press conference to announce its grassroots team who will strengthen ties with Hispanic Republicans on Oct. 9, 2013, in Houston.

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Houston Chronicle

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Davis speaks at a July 25, 2013, fundraiser in Washington.

Davis speaks at a July 25, 2013, fundraiser in Washington.

Photo: Nick Wass, Associated Press

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Former state Rep. Aaron Pena greets Abbott during the Oct. 9 Republican National Committee session in Houston.

Former state Rep. Aaron Pena greets Abbott during the Oct. 9 Republican National Committee session in Houston.

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Houston Chronicle

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Davis speaks during a press conference at Houston City Hall where she, Mayor Annise Parker, Councilwoman Ellen Cohen and Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia reiterated the fact that there is no longer a backlog of rape kits in Houston on Oct. 9, 2013. less

Davis speaks during a press conference at Houston City Hall where she, Mayor Annise Parker, Councilwoman Ellen Cohen and Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia reiterated the fact that there is no longer a backlog ... more

Photo: Johnny Hanson, Houston Chronicle

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"Piecing my life back together began with doctors piecing my vertebrae back together," Abbott told supporters during his announcement, noting physicians inserted rods in his back. "Too often, you hear politicians talk about having a spine of steel. I actually have one." less

"Piecing my life back together began with doctors piecing my vertebrae back together," Abbott told supporters during his announcement, noting physicians inserted rods in his back. "Too often, you hear ... more

Photo: Darren Abate, Associated Press

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Supporters cheer for Davis at the W.G. Thomas Coliseum in Haltom City on Oct. 3, 2013. She chose the location to announce because that is where she walked the stage to accept her high school diploma.

Supporters cheer for Davis at the W.G. Thomas Coliseum in Haltom City on Oct. 3, 2013. She chose the location to announce because that is where she walked the stage to accept her high school diploma.

Photo: Stewart F. House, Getty Images

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Abbott's campaign kickoff in downtown San Antonio came 29 years to the day after a freak accident left Abbott partially paralyzed.

Abbott's campaign kickoff in downtown San Antonio came 29 years to the day after a freak accident left Abbott partially paralyzed.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News

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Davis stands on a nearly empty Senate floor as she filibusters in an effort to kill an abortion bill June 25, 2013, in Austin. The bill would ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy and force many clinics that perform the procedure to upgrade their facilities and be classified as ambulatory surgical centers. less

Davis stands on a nearly empty Senate floor as she filibusters in an effort to kill an abortion bill June 25, 2013, in Austin. The bill would ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy and force many clinics that ... more

Photo: Eric Gay, Associated Press

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Davis stretches during her filibuster June 25, 2013, in Austin.

Davis stretches during her filibuster June 25, 2013, in Austin.

Photo: Eric Gay, Associated Press

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Fort Worth Senator Wendy Davis relieves pressure on her feet as she filibusters in an effort to cause abortion legislation to die without a vote on the floor of the Senate Tuesday, June 25, 2013.

Fort Worth Senator Wendy Davis relieves pressure on her feet as she filibusters in an effort to cause abortion legislation to die without a vote on the floor of the Senate Tuesday, June 25, 2013.

Photo: TOM REEL, San Antonio Express-News

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After preventing the Senate from taking a vote, abortion rights supporters gather in the capitol rotunda at 2 a.m. June 26, 2013.

After preventing the Senate from taking a vote, abortion rights supporters gather in the capitol rotunda at 2 a.m. June 26, 2013.

Photo: TOM REEL, San Antonio Express-News

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Abbott immediately filed an appeal after a federal judge ruled parts of the abortion law unconstitutional.

Abbott immediately filed an appeal after a federal judge ruled parts of the abortion law unconstitutional.

Photo: Pat Sullivan, Associated Press

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Davis challenges Abbott to six debates

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AUSTIN — Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis on Tuesday proposed a series of six debates with Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott in their race for governor.

Her proposal came after Abbott earlier said he had accepted two invitations for debates in McAllen in September and in Dallas in October.

Davis envisions a series of debates from July through October, including in the Rio Grande Valley, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, El Paso, Houston and Lubbock.

In a letter to Abbott dated Tuesday, she said she would like at least two of them to be issue-specific debates, which would focus on education and economic opportunity.

Davis proposed at least two 90-minute town-hall formats “with a technology partner and social media engagement;” at least one community college with a local media partner “on a weekend so parents can attend;” and at least one English-Spanish simulcast.

Abbott on Monday said he had accepted a Sept. 19 debate invitation to be hosted by the McAllen Monitor in partnership with KGBT-TV Action 4 News and KTLM Telemundo 40. Davis on Tuesday said her “strong preference” is that the Valley debate be hosted by those media outlets in July as the first debate.

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Abbott also had said he accepted an Oct. 3 invitation to be hosted by WFAA-TV. Davis said she would like to discuss that debate invitation and others.

“Your campaign's public commitment to multiple debates gives me confidence that you share my eagerness to engage as many voters as possible in this manner before Election Day,” Davis wrote to Abbott.

Abbott campaign manager Wayne Hamilton quickly declined Davis' proposal, suggesting in a letter to Davis that Abbott already had set the debate parameters and wasn't open to change.

“General Abbott has already committed to two statewide televised debates, and therefore we must respectfully decline your proposal. As you know, two invitations for statewide debates were established weeks ago, and our campaign will not waiver on those commitments,” Hamilton wrote, reiterating the Sept. 19 date in McAllen and Oct. 3 in Dallas. “We hope you can recognize the need to participate and engage with Texas voters across our state.”